The Importance Of Broadband

Christopher Mims believes that it is “now a core infrastructure requirement”:

[I]t seems likely that broadband is a great enabler, like mass transit, good ports, a system of functioning courts, and other hallmarks of developed economies. As Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, emphasized to me the last time we spoke, the one reason a country as small as Sweden has a disproportionate share of successful internet startups is that Swedish teenagers grow up taking gigabit internet connections for granted. And it’s not just traditional web startups and IT giants that need fast internet connectivity. Arguably, as businesses move more functions to the cloud and mobile becomes increasingly important, everyone needs fast internet connectivity.

(Video: A resident explains why Google should bring its free Google Fiber service to his neighborhood in Kansas City, MO)